Religious freedom and Visible and invisible standards

The situation with religious freedom in Georgia

“The situation has not improved,” is how the organization “Center for the Study and Monitoring of Human Rights” assesses the situation with religious freedom in Georgia. In its report presented on October 6, 2019, the organization notes that the situation with religious freedom in the country remains problematic.

This is related to the practice of financing and transferring centralized and self-managed budgets for properties, whether movable or immovable, as stated in the report. There is also a high level of interference in the affairs of the Muslim community, although it should be noted that the connection between the main religious organizations and their control from 2017 to 2019 has not been confirmed. However, there are still serious examples of the connection between the Georgian Muslim community and control. Control and primary issues arose at a time when religious oversight and democratic procedures within the Muslim community were seriously violated, leading to significant breaches in the electoral process and resulting in serious distrust.

During the protests, the Muslim community completely rejected the elections, stating that the elections at the National Security Protection Center were rigged and that the desired candidate was not chosen to serve in the National Security Service. What is the religious agency actually doing? - questions the report. In a critical analysis of this activity, the organization notes that since the agency's establishment in 2014, religious freedom should be protected.

The Patriarch of Georgia receives the main financial and property resource - from 2016 to 2018, his powers were actively extended not only to the historical lands that historically belong to him but also to other lands registered as state property. However, the state still controls how this money is spent. Other religious organizations may have also faced serious financial problems during the economic downturn. The closure of churches remains a significant issue in the report. There are 4 religious organizations that receive funding from the patriarchate, but there is currently no information on how these funds are being spent.

The report also notes that in public schools, following the education system reform in 2005, neutrality regarding religion is guaranteed, and religious education has become an optional subject. However, the promotion of religion and proselytism continue to exist in schools, affecting the learning process and social environment.